Athens
Organized
1780
Vermont
Local History and Genealogy
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History/Histories
The History of
Athens, Vermont, From Log Hut to Trailer, 1779 - 1960, with Genealogies,
by Lora M. Wyman (1963).
The small town of Athens,
Vermont
was granted March 11th, and chartered May 3, 1780 to Solomon Harvey,
John Moore, Jonathan Perham and associates. The beginning of the settlement of
the town was made in the fall of 1779 by Jonathan Perham, Seth Oak, Joseph
Rosier, James Shafter, and Jonathan Foster, who made an attempt at clearing the
land but soon left. In February
25, 1780, Jonathan Perham and Ephraim Holden came
with their families from Rindge,
NH. Soon, they
were followed by Seth Oak and family from Winchenden, Mass, Samuel Bayley from
Sterling,
Mass., and
Micha Read from Westmorland,
NH. During this
time, land was cleared, log homes were built, a saw mill and grist mill were
built and the families began to farm. On the 18th of September in
1780, a son of Jonathan Perham, Isaac, became the town's first death.
In obedience to the charter,
Athens
was organized on March 4, 1781. William Beal became the first town clerk,
Daniel Fuller, Jabez Hurd, and Calvin Oak were appointed selectmen and Abel
Matoon became the town's first representative. The town began to grow quickly
as roads were built and mills were running. And just twelve years later,
Athens
had 450 settlers.
The Perhams came to Athens
March 1795 from Townshend,
Mass. Other
setlers to follow were Ephraim Holden, James Shafer, Samuel Balch, Silas Powers
who lived on the farm first owned by Silas Chipman. David Robbins occupied the
grist mill and Stephen Farrington and Ethalston Bayley began farming. These
farmers began making yearly trips to Boston
with produce to barter for supplies they needed.
Vital Records
Cemeteries
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West Cemetery
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Athens Valley
Cemetery
Military
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Revolutionary War soldiers from
Athens
--- Many of the early settlers may have fought for a time in the
Revolutionary war. However, nine are listed as veterans. They are: Josiah
POWERS; James SHAFTER; Capt. Seth OAK; Johnathan and Leonard PERHAM; Ezekiel
PERHAM; Nathaneil and Calvin OAK; and Capt. Ezra CHAFFEE. Three are known to be
buried in Athens,
Capt. Seth OAK, Capt. Ezra CHAFFEE, and Josiah POWERS.
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Athens in the Civil War
Census Records
Prominent People
of Athens
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Oscar Lovell Shafter --- Lawyer and
Justice of Supreme Court of California,
1864-1868.
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Elmer Darwin Bell
--- Entomologist and Author.
Genealogy
Resources
Historical
Societies & Libraries
Local Websites
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Page Last Updated Thursday, June 08, 2000


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